Cyber security scheme launches in UK schools

Schoolchildren will be encouraged to take up cyber security as a career in a government scheme. The initiative called ‘Cyber Discovery’ aims to ‘find the next generation of cyber security talent. With some £20 million worth of investment, the program is aimed at young people in years 10 to 13.

Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Karen Bradley, said: “This Government is committed to improving the skills of the next generation and encouraging the best young minds into cyber security. Cyber Discovery will help inspire the digital talent of tomorrow and give thousands of young people the opportunity to develop cutting-edge cyber security skills and fast-track future careers. This important programme is part of our £1.9 billion investment to protect from online threats and make Britain the safest place to be online."

Delivered by a consortium of SANS Institute, BT, Cyber Security Challenge UK and FutureLearn, Cyber Discovery is a free programme and is open to young people in years 10-13 who are successful during the initial assessment stage. Individuals who register for the new extracurricular cyber security programme will have until early January to undertake the online assessment, which aims to find the best and brightest young talent.

The successful participants will then be nurtured and developed through a comprehensive cyber security curriculum which uses gamified learning and has been created by the industry’s top experts. Those who show enthusiasm and aptitude will be invited for further exciting opportunities including being part of an elite club which will include lots of exciting opportunities and teaching from cyber security experts. They will also have an opportunity to attend a three-day regional camp, have access to over 300 hours of games and online training.

The curriculum will cover everything from digital forensics, defending against web attacks and cryptography, to Linux, programming and ethics, providing a clear entry path to future cyber security roles. The course content is fun and challenging, delivered through a role-playing game and mixing online teaching, face to face learning opportunities with real-world technical challenges.